India - British Expat Forum

Hi,

We are maybe moving to New Delhi in couple of months and I have quite a few questions in my mind. I am coming to visit there with my wife in the end of february, if everything goes as planned.

I have read that British and Americans have their own communities for their citizens, are there any other expat communities there? We are Finnish so I think that we don't have any community there, there are way to few fellow finns there to form a community

I have read about Delhi network, where I can find it on the net if anywhere and does it still have office somewhere?

Because we have couple kids, we need to live somewhere near the schools, probably we will put our kid to American school. Is Vasant Vihar a childfriendly neighborhood as I understand that otherways it is quite decent area. What other areas need to be taken into account(parks etc.)?

One thing that has been a mystery to me are internet connections, what kind of connections are available there. As my wife and I want to keep in touch with our friends, a fast connection would be great.

And yet another question My hobby is bowling and on my previous brief visit to Delhi I was taken to 32nd milestone, which does not count as a bowling alley on my eyes, are there any good alleys there.

Quite many questions there, hope that some of you have time to answer to even some of them...

Br.

-Mikko

Hi Mikko

Welcome to the forum. You're our first Finn! Although despite the name it's not just Brits here.

You've asked quite a lot of questions and I'd like to take the time to reply properly. Maybe even make an FAQ page as people tend to be interested in the same things.

I'll be happy to meet you when you come to Delhi if you'd like. I can show you around and answer some of your questions in more detail. (I'm meeting Sally Ann tomorrow, who also posted here for advice.)

Briefly, loads of expats live in Vasant Vihar but there are other places you may want to consider which are nearer the school.

Internet connections are available but fairly slow. I have two ISPs so that when one doesn't work, with luck the other will. You'll probably need a generator to power your computer(s) when there's no city power, because there are frequent power cuts, and a UPS. It's not too bad - we're managing to run our website from here. I've heard that some ISPs are introducing broadband services now so you may be lucky enough to get that.

Delhi Network, as far as I know, doesn't yet have a website. I'm friends with their president although I'm not a member myself. They have an office in the Hyatt hotel which is staffed on a part-time basis.

As for bowling, sorry I don't know anything about that.

I'll try to find out more and it's possible that Sally Ann will have more information for you about schools etc, after she's finished her fact-finding mission here. Stay in touch.

Again, welcome, it's great to have another nationality on here.

Kay

Thank you for Your quick and good response. It's really good to know that there are people out there who want to help out

Kay wrote: I'll be happy to meet you when you come to Delhi if you'd like. I can show you around and answer some of your questions in more detail. (I'm meeting Sally Ann tomorrow, who also posted here for advice.)

Actually I was hoping that you would say that On our visit I have to do some work also, so maybe that could be a good time for my wife to meet somebody and ask some questions. We have to find out some time to meet on our visit. I have been there in Nov/Dec 2003 for over three weeks, so I have slight clue where we are coming.

Kay wrote: Briefly, loads of expats live in Vasant Vihar but there are other places you may want to consider which are nearer the school.

Which areas are you referring to, I have to inform our local office that they can find suitable apartments to select from, maybe a four bedroom one.

Kay wrote: Internet connections are available but fairly slow. I have two ISPs so that when one doesn't work, with luck the other will. You'll probably need a generator to power your computer(s) when there's no city power, because there are frequent power cuts, and a UPS. It's not too bad - we're managing to run our website from here. I've heard that some ISPs are introducing broadband services now so you may be lucky enough to get that.

Luckily our firm takes care of the generator, it should be included in the package. Hopefully we can get fast connections there, we are so used to having fast connection at home.

Kay wrote: Delhi Network, as far as I know, doesn't yet have a website. I'm friends with their president although I'm not a member myself. They have an office in the Hyatt hotel which is staffed on a part-time basis.

In that case I have to find out when the office is open, so we can go and see it.

Kay wrote: As for bowling, sorry I don't know anything about that.

That's no problem, I'll find it out somehow. The national association has it's office in New Delhi, so I think they should know. ACSA has it's own bowling alley, but I think it's out of my reach

Kay wrote: I'll try to find out more and it's possible that Sally Ann will have more information for you about schools etc, after she's finished her fact-finding mission here. Stay in touch.

Let's see if she has anything to say, every bit of information is more than welcome.

Kay wrote: Again, welcome, it's great to have another nationality on here. Kay

Thank you,

I think we will bring our flavor to the mix when we get there.

Mikko